Museums
The Bakken Museum
The Bakken Museum
3537 Zenith Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55416
(612) 926-3878
www.thebakken.org
The Bakken Museum is a center for learning and education in the fields of electricity and magnetism. There is a small admission charge for adults and children over the age of 3.
Family Science Saturdays
Hands-on activities and special presentations are available every Saturday from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm. These programs are included in the price of admission.
Earl Bakken Science Program
Students work with Bakken staff and volunteers to build their own inventions to take home, learning how to problem solve in the process. Sessions are held in fall, winter and spring.
The Explorers – ages 9-11, Saturdays 10 am – 2 pm
Inventors Club – ages 12-14, Saturdays 1:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Science Investigators – ages 15+, Saturdays, 1:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Summer Science Day Camps
The Bakken also offers Summer Science Day Camps which provide students ages 9-14 the opportunity to explore the excitement and magic of science, engineering and invention during the course of five days.
Bell Museum of Natural History
Bell Museum of Natural History
University of Minnesota
10 Church Street S.E.
Minneapolis, MN 55455-0104
(612) 626-9660
www.bellmuseum.org
The Bell Museum offers special exhibits throughout the school year, a “Touch and See Room,” drop-in family activities the second Saturday of each month for families with children ages 4-10, winter camps and summer discovery day camps for children in grades K-6, field trips, and adult-only programs. “Bell in a Box” learning kits are available for classroom rental. Registration is required for most events; see the website above.
Wildlife Information
(612) 624-1374 or wildlifeinfo@bellmuseum.org
Have a natural history question? You can get the answer free by contacting the Bell experts. Museum staff can identify wildlife samples for a $5 charge.
Pavek Museum of Broadcasting
The Pavek Museum
3515 Raleigh Avenue
St. Louis Park, MN 55416
(952) 926-8198
www.pavekmuseum.org
The Pavek Museum of Broadcasting features an extraordinary collection of memorabilia and equipment spanning the 160-year history of wireless communication, from the telegraph to the Internet. Museum goers can learn about the scientific principles underlying wireless communication technology, produce and deliver a live radio show, send and decode telegraph messages using Morse code and compete in a televised mock quiz show.
Science Museum of Minnesota
Science Museum of Minnesota
120 W. Kellogg Blvd.
St. Paul, MN 55102
(651) 221-4511
www.smm.org
The Science Museum of Minnesota (SMM) offers many great science classes for students ages preschool-16. Generally the classes are one-day events on a specific science topic. Past classes have included woodworking, chemistry, physics, mathematics, computer programming, biology and more.
Science Live program combines “dramatic theater, science demonstrations and interactive children’s programming” to appeal to all ages. Some topics have been “Envisioning Your Brain,”” Cryogenics,” and “Elizabeth Blackwell.”
Also at the SMM website is a Science Activities link which connects you to a number of fun and interesting science projects and activities, such as Collector’s Corner, Tissues of Life, The Great Places, Monarchs & Migration and Maya Adventure.
The omnitheater is usually a big hit, as well as 3D Cinema, with a number of showtimes and generally more than one program. These shows sell out quickly; to save disappointment, order ahead through the website or at (651) 221-9444.